Campaigns

ReFuel Your Fun Campaign for Refillable 1 lb. Propane Gas Cylinders

Every year in North America, 40 million disposable 1 lb. propane cylinders are used. Because of limited, expensive recycling options, the empty cylinders are often disposed of improperly in landfills, dumpsters, household trash, campsites, on the roadside or in recycling containers. The ReFuel Your Fun (RFYF) Campaign promotes the use of refillable 1 lb. propane cylinders in lieu of disposables. Refillables save consumers money, the hassle of disposal, and reduce the impact on landfills and the environment!

Press:

Los Angeles County Pharmaceuticals and Sharps Safe Disposal Ordinance

On 8/11/15 the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors adopted a motion directing the Director of Public Works to work with key County Departments to draft an Ordinance addressing unused/unwanted pharmaceutical and sharps waste. Specifically, the Ordinance would require manufacturers and producers of prescription and nonprescription drugs and sharps to develop product stewardship take-back programs to collect and dispose of unused/unwanted pharmaceutical and sharps waste from County residents. The motion passed by a 4-0 vote with one Supervisor abstaining.

A vote on the ordinance was postponed by the Board of Supervisors four times. On 6/14/16 the Board of Supervisors voted 3-0 with two supervisor’s abstaining in favor of a motion that will have industry contribute funding towards quarterly take back events, study the results of Walgreen’s voluntary medication collection program in LA County, and create an education campaign on existing take back locations and disposal in the trash. The EPR ordinance may be reconsidered in November 2016.

Why is disposal of leftover medications by flushing bad?

Disposal of leftover medications by flushing contributes to pharmaceutical pollution that is harming aquatic ecosystems and entering our food web. Wastewater treatment plants are designed to remove human waste and easily degraded organics, and cannot effectively remove pharmaceuticals and other complex, synthetic chemicals. Because of this, some wastewater agencies have established laws, regulations, or guidance prohibiting flushing as a disposal method for pharmaceuticals.

NSAC takes ACTION:

In an effort to end the FDA’s flush list and harmonize federal agency messaging on medicine disposal, NSAC and its affiliate organization, theCalifornia Product Stewardship Council, prepared aletterto FDA Acting Commissioner Stephen Ostroff in January 2016 that over 100 environmental and health organizations, agencies, activists and state legislators signed on to. The letter asks for a single disposal guidance and to clarify that secure medicine take-back programs provide the best disposal method for leftover household medications. An updated letter was then sent to the FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert M. Califf, M.D. in April 2016.

On May 3, 2016 NSAC received a letter from Deputy Commissioner of Policy, Planning Legislation & Analysis, Jeremy Sharp in response to the letter. The response letter states “FDA supports the proper disposal of unused prescription drugs through take-back programs and continues to include this as the first recommendation in our information to the public.” It also states, “there may be situations whereby consumers may not be able to access a take-back program. These alternative disposal options include disposal in the household trash and for a small number of drugs products, flushing down the sink or toilet as soon as they are no longer needed.”

What can YOU do:

Email Jordan@nsaction.usyour name, title and organization to sign on to the letter to the FDA